1. Education: Informing the public, schools and organisations of the work and aims of the United Nations. Materials obtained through the United Nations Information Centre in Australia is distributed by UNAA divisions to schools, organisations, individuals, and others requesting it. Other material is produced by the UNAA itself or purchased for distribution. Speakers are provided for organisations, and regular newsletters are sent to members. Public meetings and special celebrations are organised to bring UN activities to the notice of the public, and to put forward the UN point of view on many aspects of living in todayÕs world.
2. Appeals and Fund-raising: Some fund-raising for UN appeals is done directly by the UNAA or by special sub-committees of it. In other cases, the UNAA helps to prepare the climate of public opinion through its educational work and distribution of literature, and the actual fund-raising is carried out by a separate committee. Often the separate organisation is one originally begun by UNAA as a sub-committee, such as Freedom from Hunger or Austcare.
3. Acting as a liaison between the Government and public on UN concerns: There has always been close contact between the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (formerly External Affairs) and the UNAA, and this continues today. Through its councils, and through day-to-day dealings, the UNAA enables the views of its members and divisions to be passed on to the Department quickly and at a fairly high level. At the same time, it provides the Department with a well-informed body of opinion that can be used for consultation, and for publicising Australian participation in the UN. Where the UNAA has considered it necessary, it has also acted as a pressure group or lobby to try to influence Government policy on UN matters, or on matters that it has considered within its field, such as human rights, pollution, foreign policy, and overseas aid.
4. Recruitment for UN work: While the UNAA cannot itself offer employment with the UN, it can point out to the interested public and to governments where opportunity or needs exist, the kinds of people and skills needed, and how work for the UN or its agencies is carried out.
5. Working towards international understanding: By continuous and increasing education of members and others, by promoting international contacts and friendships, by trying to help in overseas aid and welfare programmes, by stressing the aims of the United Nations and showing people how they can be applied, the UNAA makes a real contribution towards international understanding. It encourages others to take on interest in this work and, through its corporate members, often influences many outside its own sphere. It encourages discussion and research on international problems, and promotes teaching about the universities, teachers' colleges and other places. It takes a public stand supporting those actions that help to increase friendship and understanding, and it attacks prejudice, hatred or other things which tend to work against world peace and understanding.